High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Parades are an important part of Northern Irish culture. Although the majority of parades are held ostensibly by Protestant, unionist or Ulster loyalist groups, nationalist, republican and non-political groups also parade. Parading is often considered to be an assertion of a group`s control over a particular area, and as a result parading can be highly controversial. However in recent years the vast majority of parades have occurred peacefully. A Parades Commission exists to settle disputes about controversial parades, although not all parading groups recognise the Commission`s authority.